[StephenW]

I have a client using a mail merge macro I wrote. One option is to use the
reciepant sort of the data source. The sort works fine if the user chooses
simple fileds like Last_Name or District_Name. But the user wants these
sorted by parcel numbers. These are actual property parcel numbers from a
Tax Claim Bureau so that they are formatted in strange ways, like:
01,002.-098L.-000
01,002.-098M.-000
02,002.-095B.-000
03,003.-077..-001
01,003.-051..-002

When I try the sort, it comes out in a strange order. At first it almost
looks like descending, even though I have ascending choosen, but after about
three records it starts going all over the place. I've taken this data file
in Excel and Access and both sort these numbers correctly. Only Word seems
to have the problem. Does any have any suggestions?

[Doug Robbins - Word MVP]

Put the data into Access and use a query in Access to sort it the way you
want it and as the datasource for the mailmerge.

--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

"StephenW" wrote in message
...
I have a client using a mail merge macro I wrote. One option is to use the
reciepant sort of the data source. The sort works fine if the user
chooses
simple fileds like Last_Name or District_Name. But the user wants these
sorted by parcel numbers. These are actual property parcel numbers from a
Tax Claim Bureau so that they are formatted in strange ways, like:
01,002.-098L.-000
01,002.-098M.-000
02,002.-095B.-000
03,003.-077..-001
01,003.-051..-002

When I try the sort, it comes out in a strange order. At first it almost
looks like descending, even though I have ascending choosen, but after
about
three records it starts going all over the place. I've taken this data
file
in Excel and Access and both sort these numbers correctly. Only Word
seems
to have the problem. Does any have any suggestions?

[StephenW]

Actually, that is an option I can not use. I can't be sure if the user has
Access or knows how to use it. This mail merge is part of a macro set that
is used first to FTP the data file from UNIX to Windows then used in the form
files. I have a form containing buttons, one of which brings up the
MailMerge Query Option diaolog box where the user should be able to sort the
data how he wants. The users are all over my State and sometimes want to
print these documents in different orders. Is there something different in
the way that Word is sorting the special characters, periods and commas, then
in either Excell or Access?

"Doug Robbins - Word MVP" wrote:

Put the data into Access and use a query in Access to sort it the way you
want it and as the datasource for the mailmerge.

--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

"StephenW" wrote in message
...
I have a client using a mail merge macro I wrote. One option is to use the
reciepant sort of the data source. The sort works fine if the user
chooses
simple fileds like Last_Name or District_Name. But the user wants these
sorted by parcel numbers. These are actual property parcel numbers from a
Tax Claim Bureau so that they are formatted in strange ways, like:
01,002.-098L.-000
01,002.-098M.-000
02,002.-095B.-000
03,003.-077..-001
01,003.-051..-002

When I try the sort, it comes out in a strange order. At first it almost
looks like descending, even though I have ascending choosen, but after
about
three records it starts going all over the place. I've taken this data
file
in Excel and Access and both sort these numbers correctly. Only Word
seems
to have the problem. Does any have any suggestions?

[Doug Robbins - Word MVP]

With the small sample of data that you included in your post, I cannot
replicate the problem. Send me a file with data that exhibits the problem
and I will take a look at it.

--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

"StephenW" wrote in message
...
Actually, that is an option I can not use. I can't be sure if the user
has
Access or knows how to use it. This mail merge is part of a macro set
that
is used first to FTP the data file from UNIX to Windows then used in the
form
files. I have a form containing buttons, one of which brings up the
MailMerge Query Option diaolog box where the user should be able to sort
the
data how he wants. The users are all over my State and sometimes want to
print these documents in different orders. Is there something different
in
the way that Word is sorting the special characters, periods and commas,
then
in either Excell or Access?

"Doug Robbins - Word MVP" wrote:

Put the data into Access and use a query in Access to sort it the way you
want it and as the datasource for the mailmerge.

--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

"StephenW" wrote in message
...
I have a client using a mail merge macro I wrote. One option is to use
the
reciepant sort of the data source. The sort works fine if the user
chooses
simple fileds like Last_Name or District_Name. But the user wants
these
sorted by parcel numbers. These are actual property parcel numbers
from a
Tax Claim Bureau so that they are formatted in strange ways, like:
01,002.-098L.-000
01,002.-098M.-000
02,002.-095B.-000
03,003.-077..-001
01,003.-051..-002

When I try the sort, it comes out in a strange order. At first it
almost
looks like descending, even though I have ascending choosen, but after
about
three records it starts going all over the place. I've taken this data
file
in Excel and Access and both sort these numbers correctly. Only Word
seems
to have the problem. Does any have any suggestions?

[StephenW]

Sure. Where do I send the file to.


"Doug Robbins - Word MVP" wrote:

With the small sample of data that you included in your post, I cannot
replicate the problem. Send me a file with data that exhibits the problem
and I will take a look at it.

--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

"StephenW" wrote in message
...
Actually, that is an option I can not use. I can't be sure if the user
has
Access or knows how to use it. This mail merge is part of a macro set
that
is used first to FTP the data file from UNIX to Windows then used in the
form
files. I have a form containing buttons, one of which brings up the
MailMerge Query Option diaolog box where the user should be able to sort
the
data how he wants. The users are all over my State and sometimes want to
print these documents in different orders. Is there something different
in
the way that Word is sorting the special characters, periods and commas,
then
in either Excell or Access?

"Doug Robbins - Word MVP" wrote:

Put the data into Access and use a query in Access to sort it the way you
want it and as the datasource for the mailmerge.

--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

"StephenW" wrote in message
...
I have a client using a mail merge macro I wrote. One option is to use
the
reciepant sort of the data source. The sort works fine if the user
chooses
simple fileds like Last_Name or District_Name. But the user wants
these
sorted by parcel numbers. These are actual property parcel numbers
from a
Tax Claim Bureau so that they are formatted in strange ways, like:
01,002.-098L.-000
01,002.-098M.-000
02,002.-095B.-000
03,003.-077..-001
01,003.-051..-002

When I try the sort, it comes out in a strange order. At first it
almost
looks like descending, even though I have ascending choosen, but after
about
three records it starts going all over the place. I've taken this data
file
in Excel and Access and both sort these numbers correctly. Only Word
seems
to have the problem. Does any have any suggestions?

[Doug Robbins - Word MVP]

What you need to remove from my email address should be obvious.

--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

"StephenW" wrote in message
...
Sure. Where do I send the file to.


"Doug Robbins - Word MVP" wrote:

With the small sample of data that you included in your post, I cannot
replicate the problem. Send me a file with data that exhibits the
problem
and I will take a look at it.

--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

"StephenW" wrote in message
...
Actually, that is an option I can not use. I can't be sure if the user
has
Access or knows how to use it. This mail merge is part of a macro set
that
is used first to FTP the data file from UNIX to Windows then used in
the
form
files. I have a form containing buttons, one of which brings up the
MailMerge Query Option diaolog box where the user should be able to
sort
the
data how he wants. The users are all over my State and sometimes want
to
print these documents in different orders. Is there something
different
in
the way that Word is sorting the special characters, periods and
commas,
then
in either Excell or Access?

"Doug Robbins - Word MVP" wrote:

Put the data into Access and use a query in Access to sort it the way
you
want it and as the datasource for the mailmerge.

--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

"StephenW" wrote in message
...
I have a client using a mail merge macro I wrote. One option is to
use
the
reciepant sort of the data source. The sort works fine if the user
chooses
simple fileds like Last_Name or District_Name. But the user wants
these
sorted by parcel numbers. These are actual property parcel numbers
from a
Tax Claim Bureau so that they are formatted in strange ways, like:
01,002.-098L.-000
01,002.-098M.-000
02,002.-095B.-000
03,003.-077..-001
01,003.-051..-002

When I try the sort, it comes out in a strange order. At first it
almost
looks like descending, even though I have ascending choosen, but
after
about
three records it starts going all over the place. I've taken this
data
file
in Excel and Access and both sort these numbers correctly. Only
Word
seems
to have the problem. Does any have any suggestions?